Applied Criminology with Criminal Investigation with Foundation Year

100% of our Applied Criminology with Criminal Investigation students were in employment or further study 15 months after finishing their course - Graduate Outcomes 2025

Get ready with a foundation year and learn the foundational skills and knowledge to complete a full Honours degree. You'll be able to embark on this qualification without meeting the level 3 entry requirements, giving you the opportunity to study at degree level through this four-year course.

Studying Applied Criminology with Criminal Investigation at CCCU involves exploring answers to some of society’s biggest questions. Our course provides you with a thorough understanding of the theories, methods, and practices involved in studying crime and conducting criminal investigations. You’ll benefit from over twenty-five years’ experience of police education, CCCU was the first university to provide a detective education programme.

Our innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum focuses on the intersections between crime, justice and society, enabling you to understand the importance of cooperation and communication between agencies within criminal justice. You will also learn about the impact of social problems and structures. It will equip you with a strong foundation in criminological theories and a critical understanding of criminal justice processes.

You’ll explore who commits crime and why, learn how the criminal justice system treats victims and why the law criminalises some harmful behaviours but not others. Our emphasis on learning through experience will enable you to practice investigative interviewing and ethical decision making. However you’ll also analyse aspects of police investigations from a range of perspectives. Our applied focus builds key skills, preparing you for a wide range of careers in criminal justice and beyond and enabling you to become skilled practitioners capable of working effectively in multidisciplinary and multiagency environments.

Professional accreditation

The Applied Criminology course adheres to and is guided by the Criminology Benchmark Statements, which define expectations as part of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education.

Specialist facilities

The Criminology team have access to the Canterbury Prison site as this is part of the University estate and our students are able to get involved in research and work in this area. In addition, the staff arrange visits and trips to allow students to experience a range of criminal justice settings where operationally possible.

The forensic facilities include a range of crime scenes, including cars, crime scene rooms, fire scenes and outside scenes and a forensic workshop and range of science laboratories. A wide range of forensic equipment is housed within these areas and the facilities and equipment used depends on whether you study Forensic Investigation as a single or combined honours degree.

We have a dedicated crime scene facility containing eight internal rooms and two outdoor scenes, a forensic workshop, five science laboratories, an incident room, a Hydra simulation centre and facilities to simulate courtroom scenarios, all with relevant equipment attached. One of our teaching rooms is an old courtroom, attached to the former Canterbury Prison.